Ball amusement device



Sept. 6, 1938. -A. BROWN BALL AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Feb. 4, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ALEXANDER Bmowm ATTORN EY Sept. 6, 1938. A. BROWN BALL AMUSEMENT DEVICE 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1937 INVENTOR Ammmm ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT or FliZE 2,129,489 BALL AMUSEMENT DEVICE Alexander Brown, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application February 4, 1937, Serial No. 123,949

Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a ball amusement device. The invention has for an object the constructiori of a device as mentioned which is characterized by a body with a concave topwall having a coaxial tube supported so that its bottom edge'is slightly spaced from the wall, and an arrangement for blowing light balls through the tube so that they thereafter fall down upon thetop wall and roll to the bottom of the tube again so that they may be again blown through the tube.

Still further the invention proposes the provision of cup shaped elements which the players may manipulate to catch the balls as they are being blown-around in the air about the tube.

Still further the invention proposes an arrangement by which the speed of return and re-circulation of the balls" may be controlled.

Anotherobject of the invention is the construction' of a device as mentioned which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reierence will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the-appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying-drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ball amusement device constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the cup devices.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a portion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed perspective view of a portion of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on the line 11 of Fig. 5.

The ball amusement device, according to this invention, comprises a body In having a concave top wall II. A tube 12 is arranged coaxially on the top wall and has its bottom end l2 slightly spaced therefrom and is secured in this position by a brace l3. This brace is attached at one point upon the bottom portion of the tube and at its other end on the material of the wall II.

A compressed air compartment I4 is arranged within said body l6 and is provided with a discharge l5 for supplying air to blow through the tube l2. A screen I6 is engaged over the discharge l'5. Light balls I! are adapted to "be blown through the tube I2 by said discharge and then to fall upon the conoaved wall H and roll down on the screen 16 and then to be blown up again through the tube.

A bafile I8 is mounted upon the sides of the tube I2 for interrupting the fall of the balls H when they are blown out through the top of the tube, and fall down along the sides of the tube. This battle is formed from a plurality of adjacent sections I8 13 etc., each one of which is selectively hingedly mounted by hinges l9. These hinges are still so that the sections of the baille maintain positions into which they are set. They may be all turned downwards or some partially raised to different positions. The adjustment serves to providedifferent degrees of resistances for the balls to return on the screen l6 and to be re-blown.

A plurality of vertical strips 20 are formed with upper and lower dove-tailed ends it which slidably engage in dove-tailed receiving annular grooves 22 formed in the discharge I5 and in the bottom end of the tube 12. These strips 26 may be slipped along and frictionally maintain set positions. They may be placed equally distant from each other or they may be grouped on one side or arranged-as'desired in different relative positions. They serve to comprise resistances for the balls re-entering on the screen I6. If at certain areas, they are placed together, the balls will be restrained from directly entering onto the screen It, and it will require some time before they are shifted around, due to other balls striking them, and to the passage or wind through the discharge, that they reach positions where they may again roll onto the screen It and be discharged again.

Within the compartment Hi there is a motor driven blower Hi, the discharge l5 of which comprises the air discharge previously mentioned. Each player is supplied with a cup shaped catching device which consists of a netted cup shaped basket 25 secured at its edges upon a wire loop 26 which is connected with a handle 27 which the players hold as clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2. The object of the game is to provide rules for playing the game which include catching the balls in the cup shaped baskets 25.

While I have illustrated and described the'preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A ball amusement device comprising a body with a concave top Wall, a tube axially on said top wall and slightly spaced therefrom, a brace for holding said tube, a compressed air compartment in said body with a discharge for supplying air blown through said tube, a screen over said discharge light balls: adapted to be blown through said tube by said air discharge and up from said concave wall and roll upon said screen and then .be blown up through the tube again, and a plurality of strips extended vertically across the space between the bottom of the tube and said discharge, said strips being adjustably mounted so that they may be shifted to different relative positions and comprise retards for the return of the balls.

2. In a ball amusement device, a body, a com pressed air compartment in said body and having a discharge, a tube supported above said discharge through which the compressed air passes, light balls which are adapted to be blown from said discharge through said tube, means for supporting said tube above said discharge, and means adjustable tovarious positions so as to act as retards for the return of the balls.

3. In a ball amusement device, a body, a compressed air compartment in said body and having a discharge, a tube supported above said discharge through which the compressed air passes, light balls which are adapted to be blown from said discharge through said tube, means for supporting said tube above said discharge, and means adjustable to various positions so as to act as retards for the return of the balls, said first-mentioned means comprising, a brace having one of its ends attached to the top portion of said discharge and the other of its ends attached to the bottom end of said tube for positioning said tube above said discharge, and said latter-mentioned means comprises, a plurality of strips slidably mounted between the end of said discharge and said tube and adjustable to positions in which they act as retards.

4. In a ball amusement device, a body, a compressed air compartment in said body and having a discharge, a tube supported above said discharge through which the compressed air passes, light balls which are adapted to be blown from said discharge through said tube, means for supporting said tube above said discharge, and means adjustable to various positions so as to act as retards for the return of the balls, said first-mentioned means comprises a brace having one of its ends attached to the top portion of said discharge and the other of its ends attached to the bottom end of said tube for positioning said tube above said discharge, and said latter-mentioned means comprises, a plurality of strips slidably mounted between the end of said discharge and said tube and adjustable to positions in which they act as retards, said strips being provided at their ends with dove-tailed portions adapted to engage complementary dove-tailed grooves formed on the adjacent ends of said discharge and tube comprising the slidable mounting of said strips between said discharge and tube.

5. In a ball amusement device, a body, a compressed air compartment in said body and having a discharge, a tube supported above said discharge through which the compressed air passes, light balls which are adapted to be blown from said discharge through said tube, means for supporting said tube above said discharge adjustable to various positionsv so as to act as retards for the return of the balls, said first-mentioned means comprises, a brace having one of its ends attached to the top portion of said discharge and the other of its ends attached to the bottom end of said tube for positioning said tube above said discharge, and said latter-mentioned means comprises, a plurality of strips slidably mounted between the end of said discharge and said tube and adjustable to positions in which they act as retards, said strips being provided at their ends with dove-tailed portions adapted to engage complementary dove-tailed grooves formed on the adjacent ends of said discharge and tube comprising the slidable mounting of said strips between said discharge and tube, said dove-tailed portions frictionally engage said dove-tailed grooves to maintain said strips in their adjusted positions.

ALEXANDER BROWN. 

